War of the Roses

by:Mako-chan

(Xiaoyu and Wang Jinrey are not mine. They're Namco's.)

Prologue: Prelude to a War

Tianhe District Guangzhou, Guandong Province, China

It was Monday, a beginning of a new week. The morning sun shone brightly against the early mist, creating a picturesque view almost reminiscent of old art. In the main streets and square, people were walking, people were riding their bicycles. In fact, they outnumbered cars. The morning smelled uniquely invigorating – a combination of the fresh morning dew and something steamed and fried.

Amidst the old and the simple lay the new, a symbol of an emerging power and prosperity. Not too far away, massive buildings stood, coming to life as company men and women poured inside.

At 10:00 in the morning, workers of the Ling Enterprises were going about paperwork, meetings, and formal reports like the rest of the week didn't exist. Nobody was an exception, even the owner and CEO himself seemed like he had no time to spare.

Odd it may seem to most people; Wang Jinrey kept working even if he was well over retirement age. The more fantastic thing was he had the tenacity and acumen like an ambitious man in his late twenties.

He sat in his massive leather chair which was situated at the top of the long table, doing his best to listen to one of the board member's staff presiding over the weekly meeting. Jinrey had to admit, this was the first time in years that he had not been able to get a good night's sleep. If things were left up to him, he'd feint back spasms to spare him stuttering and incompetence…. Besides, his little sweetheart was coming back, a proud graduate of Harvard Business School… Shouldn't he be the first face to been by her own granddaughter after being away from home for so long?

Jinrey took another sip his green tea, forcing himself to not think too much but at the same time forcing himself to pay attention to the presentation. I can't believe I'm paying this youngster to drop bomb after bomb after bomb…

"Err… The marketing division has reported a 15 decrease in this month's cost of revenue… I mean, production! A 15 decrease in this month's production!"

The elderly man took another sip of his steaming tea. Quietly, he stood up and walked, his hands clasped at the back. Jinrey went to the platform and inhaled deeply. He expelled his breath in a huge, exasperated sigh. "Young man," he asked with an ironic sense of certainty, "this month, is it?"

The skinny youth nodded his head and answered, "Yes."

Jinrey bowed his head contemplatively and put an arm on the young one's shoulder. "Young man, as much as it sounds thrilling – your report, I mean – and if it were any true, I'd be happiest. But in case you've lost your concept of time and space, it's only the first of the month."

He made little of an egress and laughed all the way back to his seat. "What is the world co—"

The next thing the elderly man knew, the room spun rapidly and all went black.

Aboard China Southern Airlines

A young woman sat alone in a plush and spacious seat in business class. She had boarded the plane wearing her hair into two perfect Chinese chignons, but after hours and hours of being in a vacuum and doing nothing, she had pulled on her hair. As she was sitting with a blanket on her lap, her ebony hair lay in a tangled mass. Her exuberance reflected her features. Anybody who learned or knew hardly believed that she was already 23. For most people, she could easily be mistaken for 18.

"Here is the headphone you requested. Is there anything else you want, ma'am? Anything to drink?"

The girl replied, waving her hand absently. "Thank you. Maybe just a glass of cold water."

Before coming home, she had booked an economy class ticket, but her grandfather had insisted that she deserved to come home as "befits his princess." After two days of argument, she met him halfway. Instead of coming home on a private jet, she opted for business class.

She plugged the jack and adjusted the headphones. She was growing restless and excited. In a matter of hours, she was coming home, and she couldn't wait to see her Grandpa Jinrey. Like the sprite that she is, she opened the small window and let the blinding sunshine in.

"Still an endless ocean," she told herself. She shut the window and closed her eyes, willing herself to catch some more sleep.

After some time, Xiaoyu's eyes fluttered as she felt a hand gently nudge her, trying to wake her from luxurious sleep.

"We have arrived. Welcome home, Ma'am," the flight attendant said with a smile.

The young lady stifled a yawn and replied with a smile. "Thank you. I can't wait to see my grandfather."

At the Baiyun International Airport

Voices were floating and the outside screeched with engine and tire. Li, Xiaoyu's amah, tugged and pulled at her handkerchief absently, watching anxiously as the signboards changed every few minutes. ARRIVED. ARRIVED – it said. No doubt, her Xiao would be eager and expecting her dear Grandpa Jinrey as soon as she gets out of the terminal. But with what happened earlier in the morning, it would surely make the girl's heart plummet.

"Amah, is that you?"

The elderly turned around. Standing a few feet away with a gigantic cart was her little porcelain doll. She stared at Xiaoyu intently, admiring how much she had grown over two years. Once clumsy and playful, she had transformed into a confident and refined lady. For a moment, she forgot all about the problem that lay ahead.

"Where's Grandpa?"

The question jolted the elderly woman out of her senses.

She took Xiaoyu's supple hands into hers. "Xiaoyu, there's something I have to tell you…"

At a city hospital

Jinrey was standing by the window watching people and cars move like ants from the 12th floor when somebody burst through the door.

"Grandpa!"

The elderly man turned around and his face crinkled happily with a smile. "Xiaoyu!" he exclaimed happily with open arms.

She ran to him, almost forgetting about his condition. "Amah told me. I was so worried! How are you?"

Patting her on the back, Jinrey replied, "I'm fine, I'm fine. Nothing serious. You know about these back spasms of mine."

Xiaoyu pouted. "They're not back pains. You fainted in the middle of a meeting! You think you can fool me?"

"Well that's true. Maybe I was too excited to see you, that's all."

"Maybe it's because you're well past retirement age and you just can't get your hands off THAT," she cut in.

"Perhaps." Jinrey gave his granddaughter a hug. "That's why I'm quitting and taking a permanent vacation."

Xiaoyu smiled at the thought. "Good idea."

"But you know… Where I end is where you begin."

.. OMG. It's HER again. Anyway, I know that some of those who follow or read my works know "Romancing the Devil", and I also know that most of you are wondering where it went… well, sad to say, I just received a notice from saying they pulled it out. I am sad and frankly pissed off, because I do not have the copy of the past four chapters anymore – everybody is an aspiring writer, but it is heartbreaking to know that what you spend time and sit for is tossed out just like that. I'm sorry for not meeting the server's standards. Anyway, I'll try my best to recover it for those of you who follow it. As an additional measure or treat, you can also start visiting mediaminer. I haven't uploaded everything but be sure to check once in a while. My handle is Shirip3np3n.